Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 6, 2012 under Commentary | 
As a general life philosophy, I find it prudent to worry solely about what can be controlled. There are an infinite number of forces in the universe — each with varying levels of significance — and nothing much good can come from addressing the untouchable.
Living things die. Forces of nature collide in horrid natural disasters. Planets wither away. Massive stars supernova. And sometimes, oddly enough, NBA referees botch calls.
It happens, and it certainly happened on Monday night, when Ian Mahinmi was tagged on a highly questionable — but entirely crucial — foul call that gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a pair of go-ahead free throws with 46 seconds remaining. It was a rough call on what appeared to be a perfectly legal defensive play, and at the risk of sounding entirely dismissive of the ordeal, I’d offer this: Move on.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary |
At this point, Odom stands as much for that flicker of humanity, that trace of sympathy or identification in the climate of pro basketball, as he does one of the most memorably gifted players of the last decade. Odom doesn’t have baggage. He’s the one who, simply by walking into a room, reminds us that we all do. It’s not the portend of reality show drama, but the right he has earned to take things personally in a sport where business conquers all.
Odom isn’t quite a tragic figure. Mostly, he’s guy who just can’t catch a break. He played AAU ball with Elton Brand and Ron Artest, a documentary just waiting to happen. Odom was supposed to suit up for UNLV, until he was implicated in a players-getting-paid scandal (or, as some would say, was one of the few who got caught). Instead, he enrolled at Rhode Island, taking a year off before taking a single year to prove he was lottery pick material. Of course, he was drafted by the Clippers, where his obvious on-court brilliance was offset by a series of weed-related suspensions (again, just one of the few dudes who got caught) and a strange inability to exert the full extent of his talent. Between Magic and LeBron, there was Odom; sentimental hyperbole, maybe, but he could handle, make plays, rebound, drain threes, penetrate, and do everything other than assume that leading man role.
Nathaniel Friedman/Bethlehem Shoals broached the ongoing trials of Lamar Odom. Although I think the reactions to Odom’s weird circumstances have been a bit more negative than is implied, Friedman somehow found a way to both trace the outline of Odom’s tale while digging down into its core — all with his usual (and much appreciated) eloquence. Worth a read in its entirety.
Posted by Connor Huchton on February 29, 2012 under Commentary |
Connor Huchton is a contributor to Hardwood Paroxysm, an editor of Rufus On Fire, and a part of The Two Man Game family. You can follow Connor on Twitter: @ConnorHuchton.
Few players confuse fans to the extent Shawn Marion does. Marion isn’t one of the league’s most exciting players on a visceral level. At least, he isn’t anymore. But Marion’s play is a consistent revelation, full of unique facets and the occasional bizarre jumper. His game is one defined by these impressive oddities: the quick release spin move in the post; the clever, perfectly timed cut to the basket; the long, effective steps in transition; and the unique, somehow acceptably effective jump shot. As Marion has aged, he’s been characterized accurately as a lockdown defender, noted widely for his recent work on LeBron James in the 2011 Finals. But what’s often forgotten about Marion, and has been unnoticed for much of his career, is his incredible ability to produce and remain effective as his game ages.
As the years have passed, Marion has learned to coalesce his skills in a way that transcends the incredible athleticism he used to possess in the mid-2000s golden Suns’ years. Now less able to rely on that athleticism, Marion has turned to the strengths he’s polished over a decade-plus long career instead, relying on what he does so well, and what has confused defenders for so many years. Marion’s play is so often befuddling, so often unrealized by many in its impressiveness, but always surprising, and unrelenting. Marion, unlike many others, is supremely confident in oddity. He capitalizes on his unique attributes; instead of being forced to overcome unorthodox skills, he uses them as a basis for consistent success.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 28, 2012 under Commentary |
It’s almost unfathomable that it’s come to this point, but Mark Cuban is fielding questions regarding whether the Mavs might cut Lamar Odom mid-season. That’s clearly not a possibility; Odom is too valuable an asset to release with closure as the only payoff. Frankly, that the idea is present and festering at all is a bit baffling, if only because it seems indicative of the clear disconnect between the organization and everyone fluttering around outside the castle walls.
Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle, for their part, have chosen their words carefully when it comes to all things Odom. They have supported him at every turn, vouched for his value, and preached patience. They’ve done exactly what they should be doing in these bizarre circumstances, as they’ve managed to embrace Odom as a member of the team and the organization without coddling him. The Mavericks have opened their offense for him, and made it their mission to establish him in his comfort zones. Carlisle has worked with Odom personally to ensure a smooth transition, only to make relatively marginal progress. It just hasn’t clicked yet, but Carlisle and Cuban appear no less welcoming than they were at the start of the season.
At risk of generalizing, most Mavs fans have adopted a far less accommodating stance in regard to Odom’s continued struggles. On some level, it’s understandable; it can be frustrating and confusing to see a player struggle for anything other than basketball reasons, particularly as we attempt to assess the game in a vacuum. But such is indisputably the case with Odom, who stands as an unfortunate example of how shadows from outside the arena can creep onto the hardwood.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 13, 2012 under Commentary |
From Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas:
Two years ago, Mark Cuban declared Rodrigue Beaubois “pretty much untouchable” in the trade market.
Now, it’s relatively notable for Cuban to say that Beaubois, who hasn’t gotten off the bench in the two games since Jason Kidd returned from a strained right calf, remains part of the Mavs’ long-term plans.
“That’s the way we see it now. Absolutely,” Cuban said.
“Untouchable,” is a fairly powerful word, and the fact that Mark Cuban used it regarding Rodrigue Beaubois some two years ago (even with a “pretty much,” semi-hedge) is still worthy of note. That was how much a solid prospect meant to this franchise at that particular moment in time, when a championship was merely a persistent aspiration. The Mavericks have obviously accomplished plenty since then, though Cuban’s estimation of Beaubois apparently remains unchanged through champagne foam and all.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 7, 2012 under Commentary |
Jason Kidd jumped on The Ben and Skin Show on 103.3 FM ESPN Radio on Tuesday to discuss injury, age, and recovery, and ended up hitting on a familiar theme with the humble hosts:
Ben Rogers: Back in the day, everyone used to say Mark Cuban was the greatest because the players get to have a Playstation in their locker. But now, isn’t it more about — look, you guys are using cutting-edge technology to get the most out of yourselves to prolong your careers, to be fresher, to recover faster, to heal faster. Between the hyperbaric chamber and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, are you amazed by how far things have come technology-wise from when you first got in the league?
Jason Kidd: It’s night and day. We still use ice baths and also at the game we put ice on our knees and whatever other joints are hurting, but you can see the technology of cutting-edge medicine — of being able to get in these different chambers and see your body heal, and also be able to perform at a higher level as you get older. That was a perfect example of what we did last year as an older team being able to win a championship.
Kidd’s response is all well and good, but the more interesting concept here is Rogers’ framing of medical technology and innovation as a selling point for players. If trainer proficiency has been made into a factor in recruiting and retaining free agents (as was the case with Grant Hill choosing to return to the Phoenix Suns, for example), then why can’t cryotherapy — a magical tool of rejuvenation and recovery — serve a similar function? It may not factor heavily into the decisions of young players, but as the reputation and awareness of cryotherapeutic treatments increases, these kinds of medical technologies could provide a nice cherry on top of an altogether well-run organization.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 3, 2012 under Commentary |
Al Harrington has played in 14 NBA seasons, and for a vast majority of that time he’s been a key component of some highly diverse offenses. He’s played in all kinds of systems maintained by all kinds of coaching administrators. He’s played under Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Rick Carlisle, Mike Woodson, Don Nelson, Mike D’Antoni, and most recently, George Karl.
Which makes it very interesting that in his conversation with Henry Abbott on today’s installment of the NBA Today podcast, Harrington chose to gush about Carlisle — who was with Harrington in Indiana first as an assistant under Bird and later as a head coach — over some of the other, very capable coaches (including his current one) on that list:
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary |
The All-Star Game is a fine exhibition, and a spectacle worthy of the league’s ever growing popularity. It brings entertainment. It brings some inevitable disappointment. It rolls up a weekend of fun into one easily digestible and ultimately forgettable package, with only a few exemplary dunk contest highlights enduring beyond the weekend’s end.
It’s not something worth getting all that worked up over, one way or another. The fans — who vote for the game’s starters via pure popular vote — sometimes make mistakes. The coaches — who select the game’s reserves — occasionally leave out a worthy candidate or two. These things happen, and we move on. We forget that there was ever an issue until the next year’s selection process creates a similar pseudo-controversy. It’s just the way of it, and I wouldn’t count on it changing any time soon.
That said, there is an odd sense of regret in the notion that Dirk Nowitzki shouldn’t — by any criterion — be considered an All-Star this season. It’s not that his case is weak; a case for Dirk simply cannot be made. Nowitzki hasn’t been a quality shot creator this season, nor has he been able to capitalize on looks created for him by others. His struggles have reduced him to an often ineffective complementary piece, and even with a list of prior accomplishments longer than his seven-foot frame, looking past Nowitzki’s issues this season is beyond unfair to the glut of qualified forward candidates in the West.
If Nowitzki is indeed excluded — as he should be at this point — his absence will generate more than a few headlines. Flames will be stoked, and discussions will be had. Just don’t forget that these things happen, and we move on. The cycle never changes, even if the names always do, and whether Dirk ends up an All-Star or not is only an inconsequential bit of trivia for his Wikipedia page.
Posted by Connor Huchton on January 31, 2012 under Commentary |
Connor Huchton is a contributor to Hardwood Paroxysm, an editor of Rufus On Fire, and a part of The Two Man Game family. You can follow Connor on Twitter: @ConnorHuchton.
As the season began, Rodrigue Beaubois found himself on the fringe of the Mavericks’ rotation. He managed to earn spot minutes for a Dallas team with considerable guard depth, but played too sporadically to earn a consistent role. But rather suddenly, Beaubois was given occasion to return to a level of importance he hadn’t seen since his rookie season; when Vince Carter injured his foot in mid-January, followed soon by an injury to Jason Kidd, a opportunity arose for Beaubois to distinguish himself once again as being worthy of a greater billing.
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Posted by Connor Huchton on January 27, 2012 under Commentary |
Connor Huchton is a contributor to Hardwood Paroxysm and Rufus On Fire, and a part of The Two Man Game family. You can follow Connor on Twitter at@ConnorHuchton.
Jason Kidd exemplifies longevity. His athleticism and strength have slowly dissipated, but even at age 38, his value remains. His game has matured superbly, and at this stage in his career, Kidd is the picture of adjustment.
He may no longer look to attack the basket (his at-the-rim field goal attempts slowly dwindled to last season’s measly 0.6 attempts per game), but Kidd has managed to find strength in weakness; his reduced foot speed has led to greater focus on competent three-point shooting and facilitation from the perimeer. In both of these facets, Kidd excels, and he contributes through made threes, crisp passing, exemplary rebounding, and timely defense.
But so far this season, Kidd has struggled to continue his helpful – if declining – play. His utter inability to make three-pointers (25.8% 3PT) has rendered his already minimal scoring almost completely nonexistent. 66 of Kidd’s 78 field goal attempts have been three-pointers, meaning that his failure to capitalize on these shots has led directly to his general scoring ineffectiveness.
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